Norma Nickerson

Hear how the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are teaching kids across Western Montana about aquatic invasive species.

This week, the shore of the lower Flathead River west of Ronan is the biggest classroom in Montana. Fourth and fifth graders from across western Montana are here for the River Honoring, an annual event hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, where they learn about the plants and animals native to the reservation.

Last year’s tourism numbers were up almost 8 percent over 2014. Almost 12 million out-of-state travelers visited Montana in 2015, but those tourists didn’t spend as much money as they have in previous years.

Research shows 2013 was a good year for Montana tourism and early signs suggest another positive year's in store for the industry. This according to the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.

ITRR director, Norma Nickerson, says Montana's tourism-driven businesses seem optimistic about what's in store for 2014. In this interview with Edward O'Brien, Nickerson discusses these generally positive trends and the factors used to determine them.